The Pharisees as a whole might not like Jesus, but they have no love at all for the ruler of Galilee, the tetrarch Herod Antipas.

Herod suspects Jesus to be John the Baptist redivivus—having come back to life—and so seeks every opportunity to see him—indeed to kill him, as the Pharisees warn Jesus.

On the other hand, the Pharisees may have simply wanted Jesus to leave the area, for they find him too much for them.

Despite the warnings coming from some “sympathetic” Pharisees, Jesus does not flinch from danger; he “sets his face” toward Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is the place of his destiny, as it was for God’s prophets.

Jesus is leaving Galilee where he had success in his mission to preach the Kingdom of God; now he journeys toward Jerusalem— “today, tomorrow, and the following day” (v 33)—not the three days he needs to reach Jerusalem, but a reference to “the third day” when he will rise from the dead, whereby he will accomplish his mission on earth.

It is not the Pharisees, nor Herod Antipas, who set the direction of Jesus. It is rather the heavenly Father whose will is a “must” for Jesus to follow.

First Reading • Rom 8:31b-39

Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?

Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. Who will condemn?

It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

What will separate us from the love of Christ?

Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?

As it is written: For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.

No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 109

“Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.”

Gospel • Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”

He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.

Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Behold, your house will be abandoned. But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.